Limitless: Blind Beginnings Podcast

In last week’s episode we talked with Lily about her experience going to school at the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind in Ontario. This week Shawn welcomes co-hosts Clement, Nika, and Ishita for a roundtable discussion about the pros and cons of integrated and segregated education systems, and how the experiences can impact the students within each.  

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

For students in BC, integration into the mainstream school system is commonplace, with the last school for the blind closing its doors years ago. So just what is it like going to school for the blind? This week we try to answer that question as Shawn and co-host Clement welcome Lily to the show, who attended the W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind in Ontario. 

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

This week Shawn welcomes Amy Amantea, artist, advocate and accessibility consultant to the show in order to talk about the importance and challenges of inclusion in the workplace. From hiring practices to assistive technology, Amy provides insight and suggestions for any employer who is looking to create an inclusive workplace culture.

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

This week on Limitless we’re hitting the gym as Shawn and co-host John welcomes Jessica Bailey to the podcast! Jessica is Miss World British Columbia 2021, Miss Supranational Canada 2021, and a personal trainer who has also started an initiative to make visits to the gym more accessible for the blind and partially sighted community.  

Follow The Accessible Movement on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/theaccessiblemovement

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Moving out on your own for the very first time can be one of the most exhilarating and at the same time terrifying experiences of anyone’s life. But what is it like for youth who are blind or partially sighted? This week Shawn is joined by co-hosts Nika, Ella, Jill, and Randi for a round table discussion of what the experience is like and some advice for those that might be looking to move out on their own for the first time. 

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Quite often children and youth who are blind or partially sighted can feel isolated and not know any other peers that might share their condition. This week Shawn welcomes back co-hosts Nika, John, and Kolby to discuss the importance of meeting peers that are blind or partially sighted for the first time and the impact that it can have, as well as many of their own personal experiences.

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

This week Shawn and co-hosts Ishita and Nika sit down and talk to Lynn Langille, long time Vision Teacher and coordinator for the Children’s Low Vision Project of BC. They discuss the Project and its mandate to provide comprehensive low vision assessment to school-age children all over the province, how COVID impacted it, and plans for the coming year. 

Children’s Low Vision Project of BC
http://www.clvp-bc.com/

Backcountry skiing is a type of ski excursion that involves being guided through areas that are more remote than conventional ski tours and has been growing in popularity in the past few years. This week Shawn and co-host Kiesha welcome Tyson Rettie, founder of Braille Mountain Initiative, a new non-profit organization that aims to inspire those that are blind and partially sighted to get involved in Backcountry Mountain Sports. 

For more information about Braille Mountain Initiative, visit them online at https://www.braillemountaininitiative.com  

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Getting a guide dog is a significant event in any individual’s life, signaling a new independence and new host of mobility options. But the process itself can be more involved and complicated than you may think. This week Shawn is joined by Jinnie, who very recently went through this process in order to get her new guide dog, to talk about each part in detail and shed some light on what the experience is like. 

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!

Fireworks have been a traditional form of celebration and entertainment all around the world for centuries, but have you ever considered how you might describe a firework display to a person who is blind or partially sighted? Shawn welcomes Colin van Uchelen to the show this week to talk about that very topic, along with his accessible exhibition about pyrotechnical arts called “Project Fire Flower”. Colin and Shawn discuss how and why he came up with the idea of creating an accessible art project like this and talk about what is in store for people who attend the show. 

Colin's "Project Fire Flower" exhibition is taking place at the Grunt Gallery at 116-350 E 2nd Ave, Vancouver.

Blind Beginnings’ mission is to inspire children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families through diverse programs, experiences, counseling and peer support, and opportunities to create fulfilling lives. Visit us online at www.blindbeginnings.ca to find out more!